India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister and BIMSTEC chair Tarique Rahman to the outreach session of the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, scheduled for September 12 and 13. As of August 13, Bangladesh had not made a decision on whether Rahman would attend or travel to India, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim.

Bangladesh is not a BRICS member, but the invitation was extended because it has held the BIMSTEC chair since 2025. India sent a diplomatic note through its High Commission in Dhaka in July. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said no policy decision had been taken, while India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi would provide an update if available.

Former diplomats described the visit as important for improving Bangladesh-India relations and for Bangladesh’s interest in joining BRICS. They said a bilateral meeting between the two prime ministers could make the trip more meaningful. Analysts also cited strains linked to Sheikh Hasina’s stay and recent remarks in India, as well as anti-India political sentiment in Bangladesh, as factors behind the government’s caution.